I identify with Paul in Romans 7. There are so many moments in which I feel completely confused and helpless.
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15
I want to live a disciplined life. Yet I find myself eating way too many cookies, letting the laundry get completely out of control, and staying up hours past a decent bedtime.
It is my desire to be a good mom, but then I do the very thing I hate. I yell at my kids. I act demanding and impatient towards them.
I set out to be a better wife only to find myself creating excuses to avoid connecting with my husband. I put my desires over his needs. Instead of being his biggest helper, I become a nagging leech.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Romans 7:19
This is a completely defeating reality.
I. Am. Wretched.
But, this is not the end of the story! Did you catch the hope Paul finds in the mess of his struggle? I see three glimpses of victory amidst the first-glance defeat.
It is no longer me.
Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Romans 7:20
If I am in Christ Jesus I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I was dead in my sin, a child of disobedience, and an object of wrath. But God chose me, rescued me from my sin, adopted me as His child, lavished on me grace, given me new life, and sealed me with His Spirit. (Ephesians 1 & 2)
Before I came to Christ I had no choice but to sin. I was a slave to the passions of my flesh, a follower of the law of sin. Now, though my flesh still lingers in me, I have a choice. The Spirit has set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) By the power of the Holy Spirit in me, I can choose obedience.
I have a powerful weapon.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, Romans 7:22
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2
The law of God, the sword of the Spirit is my offense against the flesh. (Ephesians 6:17) A sword is no good if it sits at home, lying on a shelf. We are bombarded by our flesh ever corner we turn. The word of God must be readily available for us to kill the flesh.
There is a relationship between delighting in God’s law and not walking in the way of the wicked. Our only offense against the flesh is reading, studying, knowing and delighting in the truths of the Bible.
…that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… Philippians 2:15-16
I have already been delivered, but not yet.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:24-25
In a sermon on Galatians 5, John Piper describes our flesh like a dragon, to whom Christ has given a mortal blow. Although it is destined for death, it is still living; our flesh is thrashing it’s tail and spewing fire at us in hopes to do as much damage in it’s final days.
Christ has taken possession of our soul. Our old self has been dealt a mortal wound and stripped of its power to have dominion. The Christian life, the fruit of the Spirit, is a constant reckoning of the flesh as dead (piling stones on its tomb) and a constant relying on the present Spirit of Christ to produce love, joy, and peace within. – John Piper, Sermon: Walk by the Spirit
Though my dragon of flesh lashes out and tries to take me down as it breathes it’s last, I have hope amidst the struggle. My sin nature is dead…it is just a matter of time before I am completely delivered from it’s presence.
So, yes, you and I struggle. The Christian life is not easy. But it is important to understand why we struggle, keep a tight grip on the truth of our victorious destiny, and fight the dragon.
What did you learn from this week’s study?
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This was a very tough week for me as saw how sinful I am. Again, I could have written the first few lines of this post, because that is exactly who I am! But I have also been learning to repent and lean on God so much more. This study is amazing!
Thanks, Shonda! And, thanks for linking up!
I was just thinking about this yesterday! Oh, I have so far to go. I love the quote by Piper and the imagery of the mortal blow.
Love that Paul, struggled and was honest about it. He gives me hope!
Thanks friend!
I love the dragon image as well. It really helps to understand the “already, but not yet” truth about it!
thank you katie!!! i’ve been looking forward to this discussion all week…i’ve been struggling with this passage. i feel like today i’m able to see a deeper meaning in the words. i’m going to back to read it again and hoping for my own insight to come now that i’ve had the chance to hear yours. thank you for your work on do not depart!!!
Yes, this week was a difficult passage to study. I knew you guys could do it, though! If we find ourselves going “huh?”, that is a good thing! It means we are actually reading it and not skimming!
Glad you are enjoying the study!
Thank you for this blog..I had a difficult time with this study at first. I had to read in a few different versions. K)JV felt like a Dr Seuss rhyme :) I felt reassured that we are all sinners and we all make mistakes despite our good intensions. I was grateful for the reminder that there is one who died for us to cover our sins. I enjoyed some verses in my cross study.. Psalms 51 was a great plea and prayer of David. Create in me a clean heart..renew a right spirit within me..wash me from mine iniquity., and cleanse me from my sin…just a great chapter reminding that we sin and there is help.
I also enjoyed John 3:6 KJV about the need to be born again.
And Ephesians 6:10-18 about putting on the whole armour of God. We will have battles and everyday we must take the time to read and pray and prepare ourselves for battle. That ks again
Amy
Reading a verse in a few different versions is a great study tool!
Thanks for sharing the great cross-references!
Dear Katie!
Thank you so much for this encouragement extracted from scripture! This is exactly what I am struggling with. Thank you for remind me that in Christ I have a choice.
I do think it’s good for me to be reminded how “unhappy, pitiable and wretched” I am because then I remember how awesome, wonderful and remarkable God is!! :)
I had to read the passage several times as well. I constantly prayed for wisdom and understanding. God was and always is faithful in giving me the wisdom and understanding I sought. I thank you Lord(:
God knows we struggle. We are sinners. However, choosing to “abide” in him and letting his word “abide” in us, helps us to carry on and “get through” our “Christian Struggle”.
Katie, this passage you wrote in your post, was truly insightful to me:
“I have a powerful weapon.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, Romans 7:22
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2
The law of God, the sword of the Spirit is my offense against the flesh. (Ephesians 6:17) A sword is no good if it sits at home, lying on a shelf. We are bombarded by our flesh ever corner we turn. The word of God must be readily available for us to kill the flesh.
There is a relationship between delighting in God’s law and not walking in the way of the wicked. Our only offense against the flesh is reading, studying, knowing and delighting in the truths of the Bible.”
I am gaining sooo much wisdom from this study and it is a joyous blessing to me!!! Thank you Katie(:
I would say what stood out to me the most was the fact that my flesh is at war with the precious Holy Spirit that lives within me. Although war itself is not favorable, it is encouraging to me to know that there is a battle going on. Why? Because that means the Holy Spirit is fighting for me, urging me, encouraging me to do the right things, to listen to His plea for rightousness.
So, all is not lost! Although my flesh is weak, God is strong. As my baby girl reminded me the other day. . .”Mommy, I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength!” Yes, I struggle and sometimes I fail. But praise be to God, that He does not give up on me, that He is fighting on my behalf.
I am loving this study!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I kept thinking about that 2 Corinthians 5 verse as well as I read this. And I so can relate to these words of Paul’s. You are so right that it’s a *choice* we are given – to choose that sin nature still dwelling within us, or to choose the way of the Spirit, a freeing, grace-given choice. One of my notes as I studied this passage last week was this: “God affects our inner being, which we have the choice to transfer that to our outer being (verses 22-23).” (This is not to stay that God doesn’t physically affect us, i.e. through healing, energy, etc. But God’s ways are ways of the heart. Then we are here to choose to show and act through them.)
Thanks, Katie.
This is very good. This is a struggle that all of us have. Lord, help me to walk in the Spirit!